It's the final episode of Season 3, so let's admit it: we haven't been fair with Mexico during our podcast's lifetime. Yes, we've talked about the Aztecs, but we've also talked a lot about the border issues, El Chapo, and other negative circumstances in the beautiful country of "El Águila Real" (the Royal Eagle). But it's time to redeem ourselves.


In this special DUAL NARRATOR season finale, we meet Ana and Oliver, who join forces to discover the beauty, magic, and power that Mexico has in every street corner, every local restaurant, every beating heart...


And we give you a ton of reasons to visit this beautiful and magical nation of the Aztecs. Enjoy our season 3 finale of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, and see you soon!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1270

Do you like tea? Sure, maybe. But have you ever tried (or seen someone else try) yerba mate? 

Mate goes beyond just a drink. It goes beyond the English tea time or that of other cultures. It's something which is almost... spiritual, you know?


Having started as a tradition among the Guarani people and then adopted by Spanish colonizers, this drink has spread across the world and is now seen consumed by European athletes, Hollywood artists, and even... U.S. presidents?!


The story behind mate is quite a fascinating and interesting one, and it's a story we dive into in our penultimate episode of the third season of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast! Enjoy the episode, and make sure to prepare your favorite drink before diving in!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1269

What will Latin America look like in 2040? It's a question that many experts and onlookers have been asking for a while now. With climate change, socioeconomic equality and the security of the region having become such important subjects in recent decades, one must wonder if the nation comprising Latin America are ready to face them.


This is why two experts, Laura and Rafael, have united to create a new global initiative that will bring Latin America forward several decades and get the wheels of progress turning.


In this special DUAL episode, we touch upon a story of two visionaries who join forces to create an ambitious project together - one that will change the future of Latin America forever.


Enjoy this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast - and get ready, you haven't seen anything like this yet!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1196

Throughout history, we have witnessed terrible aircraft accidents and other horrific incidents that have cost the lives of hundreds. One of the most tragic plane crashes in Latin American history occurred on October 13, 1972, in which a plane filled with young rugby players and their families crashed in a remote location in the Andes mountain range. What followed was a tale of heroism and complete horror, as they were forced to challenge their bodies, minds and even spirits as they sought to survive against all odds.

Transcript of this episode can be found at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/610

Mexican cartels are among the most dangerous and destructive criminal organizations in the world. With their number of members numbering in the hundreds of thousands and their revenue reaching hundreds of billions per year, these drug trafficking syndicates operate from Mexico to the U.S., their presence expanding to the Caribbean, Europe, and even Asia. One of the most recognized cartel bosses in history has been El Chapo Guzmán, a man of small stature and humble origins who became one of the most powerful men in the world through his criminal activities. In this episode, we reveal his story.

Transcript of this episode can be found at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/607

A magical land that stretches at the southernmost expanses of land before Antarctica (even further south than Australia and New Zealand), the Argentine and Chilean territory of Patagonia is a fascinating region filled with mystery, snowy mountains and… penguins? Discover more about the “end of the world” in this episode of Learn Spanish with Stories!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/603

There is a country in Central America, sitting between Nicaragua and Panama, which is known as nature’s paradise on Earth. Containing 6% of the planet’s biodiversity despite accounting for only 0.03% of its surface, this is the place to visit if you love animals and plants. In this episode, we learn just how incredible the beautiful land of “Pura Vida” can be.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/597

The year 1982 saw a huge event occur in South American territory: The Falklands War. Taking place over ten chaotic weeks, this armed conflict saw Argentina and the United Kingdom fight a bloody war for the “Islas Malvinas”, a number of islands just off the Argentine shore which had been under British control since the 1800s. In this episode, we tell the tale of how this war came to occur, and reveal the final victor of this terrible encounter.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/596

Possessing the most successful national football team in the world, Brazil is a master of the sport. With legends such as Pelé, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Neymar having lit up the world, it is no surprise that this country has won countless trophies. But why and how is Brazil so good? How do the youngsters in this nation – a nation with great economic inequality and social issues – become the best players the planet has ever seen? Discover more in this episode about Jogo Bonito or… “the beautiful game”.

Transcript of this episode available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/595

Venezuela’s crisis is well known across the world – over 5.5 million Venezuelans have left the nation since 2014, due to countless issues of food shortages, a lack of fuel for vehicles and government-sponsored repression against protests. In this episode, we talk precisely about one of the worst events in recent Venezuelan history: the protests of February 12, 2014. From a first-person perspective, you will learn exactly what occurred on this day; a tragic day of great sadness and loss that will never be forgotten.

Transcript of this episode is available at: podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/594

In the dense jungles of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there lies a mysterious “lost city”, which was hidden among the bushes, trees and forgotten trails for over 2,000 years. Home to mystical roads, ritualistic boulders and an immense stone staircase that had remained invisible for centuries until the 1970s, the story behind this enigmatic location will blow your mind.

Transcript of this episode is available at: podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/459

We often talk about the "discovery of America" when we speak of Columbus and the Spanish. But they didn't really discover America. Think about it: they only came across a continent that was already populated.


So the real question would be: how did the first natives in North and South America come to "discover" this land? After all, science has found that humanity originated very far away from the American continent and that these inhabitants are relatively recent compared to those in Africa, Europe, and Asia.


Is there a simple answer to this question? And, besides that, what peoples lived in Latin America, long before the Spanish and even long before the Aztecs and Incas? Who created the first languages, and initial civilizations? Who built the first buildings and settlements? Who...


Don't worry - all of these questions and more will be answered in today's amazing episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast. Enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1195

Bad Bunny, Karol G, and even Shakira in more recent years... If these names don't sound like anything to you, it's time to dust those earphones off and tune in to the most recent craze of Latin American music that has dominated the planet: reggaeton.


Originating in the Caribbean as a result of fusing traditional reggae and Jamaican dancehall, reggaeton has outgrown its forebears and become the strongest source of Latino culture across the world. In fact, it is enjoyed in anywhere from the smallest bar someplace in Puerto Rico to massive clubs in Tokyo, such has been its impact.


But what controversies does this music genre hold (including the objectification of women, and its relation to the criminal underground), and how exactly did we end up with Bad Bunny becoming one of the most famous musicians in the world (like seriously)?


Pop your dance shoes out - we'll find out in this week's very rhythmic, very entertaining episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1194

You've probably wondered what's beyond the veil between life and death, and that's normal. But some people really want to take it beyond just wondering and actually discover what that is.


In the case of the two men we'll talk about today, a Spaniard doctor by the name of Pedro González de Velasco, and a German doctor named Gottfried Knoche, the line between life and death was not as defined as it would be for the rest of us.


Because, as we'll soon learn, these doctors didn't think that death necessarily ended with a human being's last breath, and that life could continue within their physical form. This led them both to perform interesting but controversial experiments with embalming, twisting both into fascinating but terrifying individuals.


In this episode, we'll go through the life of both these men, especially Knoche, and discover just what it was that made him turn the "Hacienda Buena Vista" into Venezuela's own "House of the Dead"...


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1193

Latin America might be the most diverse region on the planet - after all, it is home to over 660 million people from countless origins, including Spanish, Pre-Columbian, British, Portuguese, African, Indian, Japanese, and more - so it would be fair to say that racism doesn't really exist there... Right?


Wrong! Unfortunately, even this incredibly multicultural region of so many skin colors and ethnic background has not been saved from discrimination, and it usually comes as  a result of the scars left by colonization. Even now, citizens with "European" features are often held in a higher socioeconomic regard than those with more "native" looks.


And that doesn't begin to cover the blatant inequality that affects hundreds of tribes across Central and South America, as even national governments have regularly disrespected the rights of ancient peoples, in an attempt to take their land and resources.


But what is being done against this? And can we see an end to the inequality still existent in this beautiful region? Find out in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1192

While many of them are cute and fluffy, we've come to learn that some animals out there are VERY dangerous. Latin America is one such place which - though not as "everything is out to get you" as Australia, is still home to venomous snakes, ravenous piranhas, skull-breaking jaguars, and more.


In this region of great beauty and a fascinating variety of creatures, you're bound to be safe, until... you're not. So, to help you keep yourself careful out there while on your Latin American adventures, we've dedicated an entire episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast to helping you identify these deadly creatures.

Enjoy, and stay safe - we'll need you healthy if you want to keep listening to our podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1191

¡Azúcar! - Whenever you hear this cry, you just know some amazingly good Salsa music is about to begin, as Celia Cruz's voice is moments away from hitting your headphones. And what a character she was, with her flashy hairstyles and extravagant clothing style, her wide smile and powerful voice.


But what was her story, before all the fame? How did a young, female Cuban singer with no industry connections end up becoming the Salsa legend? It had a lot to do with her determination and grit. 


It also had a lot to do that she had not only a husband, but the lifelong partner who she claimed "I did the music, he did everything else". This romantic story became Celia's signature and spoke of how deeply she and Pedro loved and wished to see each other grow.


But anyway, I'll leave the rest of her story for you to discover - all while learning Spanish! Enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1190

Hidden in the Andes mountain range for close to 400 years, Peru's Machu Picchu has long been an incredibly famous South American tourist destination. After all, it's wonderful location, beautiful views and the advanced technology with which it was created (how were those rocks even transported up there?!) make it unique not only in Latin America, but the world.


But was it just a temple for the Sun god, Inti, or was it something more? After all, there is evidence that leads scientists to believe that not only nobles and priests lived up there but also peasants, who shared its steep streets and paths with a common belief in their deity.


Furthermore, the mystery of its purpose is nowhere near as big as the mystery behind its disappearance into history. After all, Machu Picchu was abandoned long before the Inca Empire disappeared, meaning that something great (and perhaps terrible) took place there that forced its inhabitants to flee.


Want to find out more about that might have been, and get some answers surrounding the Citadel in the Clouds? Check out this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1189

Move aside, the Himalayas. The Andes might not have the highest peaks in the world, but it's actually the most extensive mountain range on our planet, encompassing 7,242 kilometers and stretching across SEVEN different nations. It's South America's pride.


But what's so special about the Andes, and what type of terrain, flora, and fauna can you expect to find there? Oh, and why was it so important for human civilization, who not only lived there but turned it into the birthplace of great empires?


In this episode, we climb Latin America's highest peaks and ascend to the very sky above this wonderful region to look down upon the magnificent Andes mountain range and uncover its mysteries. Enjoy!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1188

Eva 'Evita' Perón, a woman who caused so much amazement and admiration over the decades that even Madonna, the Queen of Pop, begged to play her in a film. A young woman who, despite growing into the wealth of Argentine politics, actually came from a poor background and knew what it meant to be hungry.


The wife of controversial president, Juan Domingo Perón, Evita was a radically contrasting figure. On the one hand, she mingled with the poor and brought women's rights forward a few decades...


On the other, she and her husband were supporters of fascism across the world, including figures such as Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler.


But we'll let you conclude as to how you feel about her, because nobody (not even the greatest humans of all time) are either "good" or "bad".


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1187

You know of the Panama Canal (we already talked about it in Season 1 if you didn't), but you probably had no idea that a second canal has been in plans for a very, very long time now - one that passes through Nicaragua (that's north of Panama).


But the delays haven't just been a problem of bureaucracy and budget... the canal would actually have to pass through a delicate natural reserve, where both humans and animals coexist, as well as a lake that certain endangered species call their home. All of this has caused great controversy.


And that doesn't even cover half of what has happened (or failed to happen) during the planning and proposed construction of this canal. Because even nuclear warheads (?!) have been considered, and yes, we're not kidding. Want to find out more? Check out this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1268

Do you love soccer? Argentinians do, that's for sure. Their two top teams - Boca Juniors and River Plate - are actually among the fiercest rivals in world soccer, and have seen some of the most amazing encounters that Latin American football has to offer.


In this fantastic DUAL episode, we find Lucas and Paula getting ready to enter this year's Superclásico - that is, the duel between these two legendary teams. Having a bit of time to spare before the match, they decide to share a bit of competitive banter while remembering their teams' amazing feats and deciding on which one is best!


So, it's time for you to dive into the magic, tragedy, glories, and failures at the pinnacle of Argentine football. Enjoy this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1186

Sometimes, waiting for law enforcement to help is not enough, especially if the local police are involved in the crime you expect them to solve. Such was the belief of a brave mother named Miriam Rodriguez, who in January of 2014, realized that nobody was going to help her get her daughter back after she was kidnapped.


This woman, one of the bravest we've ever heard of, decided to take justice into her hands and commence both an investigation and manhunt like no other. She would go after every kidnapper involved in her daughter's crime and put them behind bars.


This would raise alarm bells among the criminals and cartels, but Miriam admitted it herself: "I'm going to take down the people who kidnapped my daughter, and then they can do what they want with me." 


...Find out how this heroic story ends in the newest epic episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast.


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1185

How much do you know about what goes on in North Korea? Probably not much. Perhaps you think that a lot of what is said is just negative propaganda by anti-communists. But what if I told you that a Venezuelan communist was imprisoned there and got to see how horrible the prisoner treatment was up close?


Now, you must be wondering... what was a Venezuelan poet doing working in North Korea? Today's story is precisely about this man and what led him there. Ali Lameda was a passionate dreamer, who believed that the world needed more of what East Germany, Romania and North Korea (among other nations) had implemented at the time. The message of Karl Marx was like music to his ears. So he decided to contribute to Kim Jong Il's cause.


But he didn't expect that a slight, small criticism of what Kim's government was doing in terms of propaganda would cause him... a world of pain, both literal and even spiritual, as the North Koreans attempted to destroy the man over decades.  


Does it sound horrific? Probably - but it might just have a happier ending than you think. Find out everything about this relatively unknown case in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1184

Have you ever heard of the Mapuche people, or the historical country of “Wallmapu”? Probably not, and there’s a reason for that: the Mapuche people have been conquered, colonized, and excluded for centuries, since the Spanish arrived in South America... to the present day when modern governments continue to ostracize and bar them from possessing the same rights as everyone else.


It’s a controversial subject and one that has caused great bloodshed in the south of South America, with fierce protests and even extrajudicial killings: it’s a fight not only for equality by the Mapuche people, but one of simple respect by a society that has shunned them and forced them to live in uneducated poverty for too long.


But maybe it’s time for you to build your own opinion – check out this week’s episode and learn more about the Mapuche while also polishing your Spanish fluency!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1183

While capitalism has undoubtedly brought us some of our most impressive advancements as a species, it has also done some pretty terrible stuff to people across the world. Latin America is not an exception.


In the early 20th century, as corporations in the United States began looking outward and started entering poorer countries (under the guise of "foreign investment"), governments across Central and South America would greedily accept them and allow them to do whatever they wanted.


Soon, however, these corporations turned against the people and began the exploitation of land and workers, turning their host countries into "Banana Republics" which depended almost 100% on the profits gained from working with the corporation. But why the name? And how did it affect the nations in the long run?


Well, I guess you're going to have to listen to the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast to find out!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1182

When you watch a pirate movie, have you ever asked yourself where most of them are based? Heck, isn't the most famous movie pirate saga based in, precisely, Latin America (the Caribbean)?

And I bet you didn't know that most of those characters, events, and legends are based (loosely) on real stories and treasures - yes, it's not an exaggeration when we're told that reality surpasses fiction.

So... what is it that drove pirates and explorers to venture into the Caribbean and South American continent? Why, treasure, of course! And that's what we're talking about in today's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast. So, buckle up and bring yer' eyepatch. We be goin' to embark on a fascinatin' treasure-huntin', language learnin' adventure!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1181

Did you grow up loving dinosaurs like me? Maybe, maybe not, but you have to admit that it's sad how they disappeared. One day they were out there doing their thing, and then BOOM! A giant asteroid fell from the sky and ended them all.

But where did that asteroid land? To be honest, there are mixed studies, but it is widely believed that the Yucatan extinction event was the cause for the disappearance of dinosaurs and 75% of all animal and plant life on Earth. Its crater, specifically known as The Chicxulub Crater, was discovered relatively recently (in the 1970s) and is still an extremely interesting subject of study.

In this latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we'll dig deep into the story of this now-hidden crater, the story of the asteroid that caused it, and the fate of the dinosaurs 65-66 million years ago, all while learning Spanish. Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1180

It may be surprising if you didn't already know this, but back in the late 1980s, a son of first-generation Japanese immigrants rose enough in political power and popularity to become president of a South American nation.

We're talking of the ex-president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, who was elected in a time of great economic and social struggle in the nation. There was even an ongoing war against the widespread terrorism brought about by Abimael Guzman's Sendero Luminoso (which we talked about in a previous episode) that Fujimori promised to end, which helped him convince voters during his campaign.

But soon, Fujimori's tactics became more bloodthirsty, and his government measures more authoritarian, and such began the most controversial presidency in Peru's history. Discover all about it (while learning Spanish) in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1179

What if I told you that there was a "day in which the mountain rolled into the sea" in Venezuela? What would you think? It sounds almost poetic, but it describes the country's worst natural tragedy in history.

It all began with a week of heavy rain, a storm at the beginning of December 1999, when the whole nation's attention was fixed almost entirely on the shifting political events that would mark the end of an era and the beginning of something revolutionary - the age of a new referendum under Hugo Chavez's government.

But all eyes would certainly soon turn to the events occurring across the coast in Vargas state, as the rain continued to fall and soon turned into something much, much worse.

In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we’ll delve into Venezuela's scariest natural disaster - one which marked a before and after for disaster prevention techniques and responses worldwide, such was its impact. We will discover... the Vargas Tragedy.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1178

Did you know that one of the most influential writers in history is actually from Latin America? Colombia, to be exact – I’m talking of Gabriel García Márquez, of course!

Father of the amazing and refreshing genre known as “Magical Realism”, this Aracataca-born man changed the course of Latin American literature forever with his classic “One Hundred Years of Solitude”.

In this latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we’ll cover his life, his inspiration, the way he worked and why he grew to become Latin America’s most important writer of the past century. Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1177

The Jesuits were a Catholic order that was founded in Europe, but which soon expanded to South America to spread the word of God - mainly to Paraguay.


However, they had a different way of evangelizing, which made them as interesting as it did controversial... hated, even. You see, the Jesuits didn't believe in forcing their beliefs on the local indigenous tribes or forcing conversion.


Instead, they integrated themselves into the indigenous beliefs and allowed the natives to express themselves, as long as they understood what Catholicism meant. This, and the fact that Jesuits believed in communal living, social justice, and a huge respect for the poor, led other branches of Catholicism (and even royal figures) to see them as dangerous Marxists who needed to be eliminated.


But this story has quite a few twists and turns before we get to the end - find out exactly what happened to the Jesuits in Latin America in this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1267

Do you know what’s one of the strangest things in Latin America? The fact that the biggest country in a Spanish-majority region (with a third of the total population in Latin America) speaks a different language: Portuguese.

You’d think that somehow, Brazil would have adopted Spanish like their neighbors, but they never did, and even today, it is a minority language among many others. So… why? Why does Brazil speak Portuguese?

Basically, it has a lot to do with its origins and how the colonized lands were divided when it came to the Portuguese and Spanish kingdoms, who now had practically full control of the South American continent.

…but I won’t go into the historic details here. It’s better if you watch the fascinating latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, instead!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1176

Have you ever wondered why Paraguay isn’t really a big, star destination in South America? In fact, it’s actually one of the least talked about locations in all of Latin America despite its size and location.

Well, this might have a lot to do with the fact that it went through a truly terrible war in the 1800s that decimated its infrastructure and even its population (up to HALF of Paraguayans died!), leaving the country more or less in ruins, and in need of serious rebuilding.

And who were the culprits? That would be an interesting alliance between the Empire of Brazil (yes, it was an empire once), Argentina and Uruguay – in other words, what would be known as The Triple Alliance.

But what caused the War of the Triple Alliance, and why did it get so ugly? Find out in today’s episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1175

Many of the best heroic stories end in tragedy. Such is the case of Kiki Camarena, the ace DEA agent with a magnificent sixth sense and an ability to sniff out the bad guys unlike any other.

Although his career was centered on U.S. law enforcement, this Mexican-born special agent was transferred to Mexico to keep an eye on the ongoing events of the criminal underworld and soon realized that things were getting really bad, really quickly, way before anyone else did.

Infiltrating himself into the world’s biggest marijuana plantation, thwarting Mexico’s biggest cartel in history at every turn, and even unveiling a massive international government conspiracy were only a few of the things Kiki managed to do within a few years… but this would end up costing him dearly.

Find out more about the life and death of agent Kiki Camarena in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1174

Some people are born different. Talented, special, prodigies… whatever you want to call them, they are able to do things others could only dream of. Gustavo Dudamel is one such man – from a young age, he demonstrated an immense ability in the world of music.

This music conductor not only became the best of his nation, Venezuela, by the age of 18, but also soon dominated South America, Europe, and the entire world with his ability to lead orchestras of all shapes and sizes. 

Discover the story of this man who has not only broken all kinds of records in Venezuela but in music history, and who continues to amaze the world of art and music with his accomplishments, in the latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1173

In 1985, Colombia was going through one of its most terrible periods in all its history. On one side, Pablo Escobar was destabilizing the nation with his drug trade and violence, and the Cali Cartel was growing in power. On the other, only two years before, a terrible earthquake had destroyed the city of Popayán, scarring the memories of local citizens and bringing fear to those around the nation.

But before the nation could recover, an even more horrific event struck – one that would be seared not only into the minds of Colombians, but of all humans worldwide. The brave, pleading eyes of Omayra Sanchez, the desperation of her rescuers, the pain and terror following a volcanic eruption and the avalanche of hot mud that followed…

This is the story of the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz: the Armero Tragedy, and all the horror - as well as the courage - that followed.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1172

Welcome back to the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast by Lingo Mastery! We’ve arrived once more, this time with Season 3, to bring you the best in Spanish learning.

This time, we want to travel across the world, away from Latin America… all the way to the Philippines, where a very interesting Spanish-related development happened between the 1500s and late 1800s – the colonization of these enchanting islands by the Spanish Crown. 

In this episode, we want to tell you more about what consequences the Spanish influence brought to the Filipino culture, how they left their mark on religion but strangely not so much on the language, and what role the United States had to do in all of this (spoiler alert – it’s not a pretty one)!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1171

We’ve reached the Season Finale of another wonderful season, and we want to thank you for your support all throughout the year, in which we became one of the biggest Spanish learning podcasts and reached thousands more than we ever had. And, to end Season 2, we want to take you on a journey like no other in this special DUAL-NARRATOR episode.

Have you ever felt the threat of burnout, wanted to travel across Latin America and discover the hidden gems and beautiful locations that are nowhere near the typical tourist traps everyone is going to? Well, we’ve got the perfect episode for you. In this episode, Anthony, struggling with serious burnout, receives an amazing gift from the mysterious Raquel, which will take him to some of the most incredible locations in the Latin American region. Guatemala, Belize, and more, you'll love it!

Join them in this special season finale episode that uses sensory descriptions to boost our storytelling techniques even further… and see you in the next season, Spanish learner!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1170

When you think of the most impressive empires in the world, you cannot avoid thinking of the Aztec Empire, the powerful Mesoamerican civilization that conquered much of modern-day Mexico and was comprised of several million people. This is because, for a civilization that ruled over 500 years ago, the Aztecs accomplished many impressive feats in terms of medicine, society and technology, and were extremely skilled at the arts of diplomacy and war.

However… this civilization also had a great lust for conquest and blood, and both their practices of human sacrifices and slavery made them hated among local tribes that they had subjugated. Because of this, it is no surprise that when the Spanish colonizers arrived on their shores, a great alliance of indigenous people rose up to smash them. But how exactly did the Aztecs fall, and how was their society structured? Find out in this week’s episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1169

In the history of Latin America, political extremes have caused great pain and suffering, especially to innocents throughout the rural areas of Central and South America. Communism has not been an exception to this rule. And in Peru, during the 70s, 80s and 90s, one particular Communist party made Peru an extremely dangerous and unwelcome place to live in. Led by a narcissistic leader who believed in using violence to further his goals, Sendero Luminoso is a fantastic example of terrorist groups hiding behind a “political party” to accomplish their goals.

With Abimael Guzmán at the helm, the so-called Shining Path recruited college students, teachers, and even high school teenagers as soldiers, forming an army that would later be the cause of bombings, kidnappings and murders, with drug trafficking and executions also being among their preferred activities. The government’s response was equally as violent, and war came to Peru. But how did this terrible story end, and what happened with Abimael and his army at the end? Find out in this action-packed episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1168

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez. You may love him, hate him, or wonder who we’re even talking about – but the truth is that Nayib Bukele has changed the direction of El Salvador’s history forever, simply by turning it from the world’s most dangerous nation to one of its safest, practically overnight. But we must ask the important question here: is he the Central American nation’s savior? Or is he a tyrant slowly controlling the population’s lives with an iron fist?

In this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, we are going to discover not only what Nayib Bukele has accomplished in a few years, but everything that led (historically speaking) to today’s situation in El Salvador and why he was elected to begin with. After all, as the old adage goes: “Hard times create strong men”. Enjoy the episode!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1167

While not a country we hear about often these days, Nicaragua has gone through quite a turbulent history that has left it with long-lasting economic, political and social scars.


And leaving aside the subject of Daniel Ortega, current dictator of Nicaragua and one of the longest-lasting presidential terms in the world (with 26 interrupted years in power), Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution, in particular, brought massive transformation to the country, although with great controversy attached to it.


In this episode, we discover what exactly led to this revolution of the people, who the Somoza dynasty was and what they did to cause it, and why Nicaragua became the United States' biggest enemy for a period during the 1980s, culminating in a grand trial at the International Court of Justice.


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1266

Did you know Panama has no army? Probably not, but it wasn’t an arbitrary or random decision. You see, it was all due to one man: a dictator, a tyrant, an enemy of the United States of America. Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno, who grew from low-ranking soldier in the Panamanian Army to the most powerful man in the country in just a few decades. And – while they initially loved him as a strong ally against Latin American communism – his relationship with the U.S. soon turned sour and brought about the last foreign invasion Latin America has ever faced.

In this episode, we learn the story behind the United States’ famous ‘Operation Just Cause’, a controversial invasion of Panama which left civilians and enemy forces dead in its wake, and which still causes certain bitterness and anger in the Central American nation to this day. And… just what was Noriega’s darkest, deepest secret that shocked the world long after the invasion had ended? Find out in our latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1166

So, by you now you know your Latin American beaches, your mountains and waterfalls - of which there are many, so congrats for that – but you probably haven’t yet heard of the lesser-known “bizarre” or even “haunted” places in Latin America. But what makes a place bizarre? Any number of things, starting from a worryingly high number of suicides having occurred there, or a horrific backstory of drowning or demonic possession… anything goes when it comes to the weirdest places in Latin America.

Tequendama Falls, the Island of the Dead Dolls, the Devil’s Island… travel from Mexico to Argentina in this episode dedicated to the places you may actually love the idea of visiting, but make sure to prepare yourself: there is some horror to discover as we visit each place. Are you ready to learn of the places that makes Latin Americans’ blood run cold? Join us in this latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast! 

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1165

While today we may recognize Medellín as a beautiful city that is not only welcoming of tourists and digital nomads but also a safe place to live, it was not this way just a few decades ago… You see, in the 1980s and early 1990s, a wanted criminal known Pablo Escobar had made this city – as well as much of Colombia – his personal territory in which he would grow what was the biggest drug trade business in history. It didn’t only earn him much riches and recognition, even being named on the Forbes list of international billionaires seven years in a row, but also put him in the sights of the U.S. government.

A troubled man who some considered Colombia’s “Paisa Robin Hood”, this individual had a strong resentment for the oligarchy and wanted to change the political and social order in his nation by force. But was this violent drug lord who brought the region to a standstill a maniac or a genius? We will discover this in our latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast. Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1164

Diego Maradona. Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. They have all been the greatest of their times at some point… but there is a player who is even greater than these footballing giants. The winner of 7 Ballons d’Or (you’ll understand in a minute), 3 World Cup trophies (sorry Cristiano), Player of the Century and so many more awards, O Rei Pelé was on a whole different level. Furthermore, having been born into extreme poverty was unable to destroy his self-belief or his willpower, and you’ll discover more about this in this episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast.

But what is the story behind Pelé’s success? And what else happened in this man’s fascinating life; a life that came to a sad end so recently in 2022? This footballer who we must remember was also an actor, an ambassador for UNESCO and so much more – the time has come to dive headfirst into the biography of the (disputed) greatest footballer of all time.

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1163

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón. You may know her simply as Frida Kahlo… An artist with a tragic past. A woman who knew suffering and sadness. A wonderful warrior who fought like no other, both against the societal reality of her time, as well as the difficulties of disability and chronic pain. And yet, her story is not always well told, as it also seems to leave out some important events. 

You see, for all her strengths and virtues as an artist and a human, she had one massive weakness. A man, who played with her feelings and humiliated her whenever he could, to the point in which she was quoted as having two great accidents – the one that left her body destroyed, and Diego Rivera. But let’s go more in depth in our latest episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast, in which we question: was Frida Kahlo truly a feminist icon? Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1162

South America is fascinating and has some incredibly remote areas, but what if you want to go even more south and even more remote? Well, good news for you, as you would find yourself in Antarctica, the land of the penguins and sea lions, the place where the coldest temperature in history has ever been recorded. 

But what is the link between Antarctica and Latin America, how do you get there, and what crazy story surrounds its discovery and exploration? Find out in this week’s episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast by Lingo Mastery! Enjoy… and take a sweater!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1161

This is it. The episode you’ve been waiting for… the long-awaited What If? episode, in which we travel through realities and find out what could have happened in Latin American history. Join Anthony and Li as they make use of a time machine to move across realities and witness the greatest moments of Latin American past, present and future transformed into something very different, with quite surprising outcomes...

This special edition episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories will blow your mind – all while teaching you the best in Spanish fluency! Enjoy!

Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1160